That night, in a field near Bethlehem, there were shepherds watching over their flocks. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared in radiant splendor before them, lighting up the field with the blazing glory of God, and the shepherds were terrified! But the angel reassured them, saying, “Don’t be afraid. For I have come to bring you good news, the most joyous news the world has ever heard! And it is for everyone everywhere! For today in Bethlehem a rescuer was born for you. He is the Lord Yahweh, the Messiah. You will recognize him by this miracle sign: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough!”

Then all at once, a vast number of glorious angels appeared, the very armies of heaven! And they all praised God, singing:

“Glory to God in the highest realms of heaven! For there is peace and a good hope given to the sons of men.”

When the choir of angels disappeared back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go! Let’s hurry and find this Word that is born in Bethlehem and see for ourselves what the Lord has revealed to us.” So they ran into the village and found their way to Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in a feeding trough. Luke 2:8-16 TPT

Oh look what I discovered in the last part of this story; “Let’s hurry and find this Word that is born…” Right there! John 1:1 says, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

God places such a high value on His Word, do you? Jesus is the Word of God spoken to Mary, who gladly received it, carried it for 9 months and gave birth to him. It didn’t happen in a palace, or even a nice cushy bed. I’m sure it was anything but what she imagined, but it happened like He said it would.

Don’t you see that God is waiting for you to take the Word He’s spoken over your life, carry it and give birth to it? Like Mary, you were born to birth something special. When you’re pregnant with a Word, it’s only a matter of time and it will come out. Don’t abort the promise by speaking contrary to the Word. Protect it. Nourish it. Know it. God’s Word ALWAYS comes to pass, just not like you think it will.

Father, thank You for the Word you’ve placed in me. Like a hen watches over her chicks, so will You watch over Your Word to perform it. My hope and confidence is in You. Your Word has healed me, delivered me and transformed me. I will not fear, for You are in me. I praise Your mighty name today, knowing that the Word in me will prosper and yield great reward. It’s in Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Merry Christmas,

Sandy G

“And whenever you stand praying,  if you find that you carry something in your heart against another person, release him and forgive him  so that your Father in heaven will also release you and forgive you of your faults. But if you will not release forgiveness, don’t expect your Father in heaven to release you from your misdeeds.” Mark 11:25-26 TPT

Have you ever found yourself in an unforgiving state? It’s really ok to admit it, we’ve all had those incidents that have remained unresolved in our hearts. A word spoken to you or about you, an action understood or perhaps understood. Sometimes people can just be mean and it’s hard to overlook it no matter how you try.

Well, regardless of the reason, we must not hold onto it, we must choose to forgive. It doesn’t mean that it will be easy, but as I was thinking of an incident that happened to me many years ago, I realized that forgiveness begins with a choice but is only complete with surrender. It’s never completely gone until we give it up.

Let me explain what I mean. When I allow the thoughts of what happened to sit and stew in my head, eventually it takes root in my heart and is harder to get free from. Anything rooted, grows, especially when I constantly water it and expose it to others. Before I know it, that root becomes a formidable stronghold that is so much harder to get out.

It’s hard to forgive, unless I remember what Jesus did. It’s impossible to replace hate with love unless I surrender it to the Father and let His love wash it all away. Jesus said I can’t expect to be forgiven unless I learn to forgive. I can’t release love to others if I’m holding fast onto something else.

So this morning, I have a few things to let go of. I don’t really want to, they’ve been there so long, I’m not sure what I’ll feel like without them, but I must. Once and for all, I surrender it now. I won’t bring it up again until Love has cleansed me from it. I don’t want to stand before God with unforgiveness in my heart and expect Him to forgive me of my many, many, many sins.

Thank you Lord for saving my soul, making me whole and giving to me such absolute forgiveness that You’ve completely wiped them away and buried them where they’re never found again. May I follow Your example. Teach me to love like You.

Sandy G

Visionary; a person who is given to audacious, highly speculative, or impractical ideas or schemes; dreamer.

There are two kinds of people in the world, those who believe it when they see it, and those who dream it, speak it and than see it. God is a visionary. He saw what could be, than he spoke it into existence. Jesus was also a visionary. He saw the blind seeing, the deaf hearing, the lepers cleansed before it happened. He merely spoke out of the vision inside of him.

What about you? Are you a visionary? Are you given to audacious, highly speculative, or impractical ideas? Are you a dreamer?

Matthew 21:21-22 GW, Jesus answered them, “I can guarantee this truth: If you have faith and do not doubt, you will be able to do what I did to the fig tree. You could also say to this mountain, ‘Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. Have faith that you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Never stop dreaming. Never allow discouragement to affect your dreams. Age isn’t a factor when dreaming. Faith is! When you trust in what you don’t see, it affects what you do see. That’s why Jesus said, “Have faith in God!” He wants to hear your vision, to see you dream big, but He also wants to be involved in it.

Every big dream needs investors and God is yours. You don’t have to convince Him of it, He gave you the dream and He’ll work out all the details. Just be attentive, listen to His promptings. He’ll show you the way, all you need to do is walk in it. Nothing is impossible to those who believe!

Thank You Lord for being my example, my mentor, my teacher. Thanks for giving me Your Holy Spirit to lead me into all truth. You gave a picture to Abraham to meditate on; stars and sand. May the vision you’ve given me, neither overwhelm or stop me, but challenge me to believe You for more. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray this, Amen.

Sandy G

Psalm 62:5-7 NLT “Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.”

Have you ever tried to touch something that was just out of reach? When I read this, I pictured the enemy trying to get to me but I was just out of reach. I turn and look at Father, he smiles and I hear him say, “Told you I wouldn’t let him touch you! The only way that he can get to you is if you move away from my side.”

Another Psalm comes to mind, the 91st; If I live in the secret place, I’ll remain stable and secure under the shadow of the Almighty, where no enemy can stand.

Right in the middle of uncertainty-He’s my stability. In the middle of turmoil-my peace. In sickness-healer. In weakness-strength. In trouble-help. Darkness-light! Can I get a witness?

So many of you are facing things you just don’t know how to handle but God would say to you, “Look up! Your deliverer has come. He was not just a baby in a manger, He’s alive today and lives to make intercession for you. He petitions me daily on your behalf, what is there to fear? Have I not said to come to me when you’re weary and heavy and I will give you rest? Not the kind you know, but MY rest! When your eyes are on me, the things of this earth grow dim because the light of my presence is enough to show you the way through. I am your Deliverer. Your strong tower. Your help. Come. I will show you the way.”

What sweet assurance that even if things look bad, You always have me in the palm of Your hand if I only trust in You. Father, everyday, may I remember Your words. You are faithful to keep me out of the enemies hands. I rest by the still water because You restore my soul. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Sandy G

For although we live in the natural realm, we don’t wage a military campaign employing human weapons, using manipulation to achieve our aims. Instead, our spiritual weapons are energized with divine power to effectively dismantle the defenses behind which people hide. We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One. Since we are armed with such dynamic weaponry, we stand ready to punish any trace of rebellion, as soon as you choose complete obedience.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 TPT

In the King James version which is what I learned the verse in, it says casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV

Have you ever lay in bed and thoughts would not stop running through your head? And these aren’t just random thoughts, these are focused thoughts. They creep in and tell you things like, you have a tumor and you are going to die. And no matter what you do, those thoughts just multiply in your head.

So the other night I was being tormented in my mind. It was driving me far from sleep and actually fear began to creep in. And this verse came to my mind, casting down imaginations. I began to talk with the Lord about it and asked him if this was what he was talking about. Could these imaginations be from a tormenting spirit? If so what do I do?

So I found the scripture and I looked it up in different translations. I think the passion translation is easy to understand, but the King James version just spoke so deeply to my spirit. The verses before that talk about wrestling and our weapons are not of this world. I began to realize that our mind is where the devil plays his games.

So I began to take into captivity those thoughts and bring them under the authority of the word of God. I began talking about my Covenant that God made with me. I began to think on scripture of healing. It doesn’t mean the pain went away right away. The devil’s not that dumb! He knows that if he can mess with us and get us to believe the lie that he’s sending to our minds, he’s won the battle.

But God meant what he said when he said I sent forth my word to heal you and deliver you from all your affliction, all your disease! Those are not just cute little words that we quote, those are words we take to heart and can believe! I’d like to say, What God Says is truly the truth. You can’t debate it, it’s simply his word and it does not return to him empty but it accomplishes what he sends it forth to do.

So I’m going to say this, if you are his child, you can believe that Satan is after your peace, your health, your finances, your children, your home, and anything else you can think of. He plays dirty and he’s not satisfied with just your goods, he will try to steal everything he can including your peace of mind. He will wear you out if you allow him to.

So today and every day, I’m going to put down those thoughts that have been trying to mess with me in the night and in the daytime. I will believe the word of the Lord. And I challenge you to do the same! Stop allowing the Devil to steal what belongs to you. He can’t do it unless you allow it because you have a covenant with God.

Blessings on your thoughts today.

Sandy G

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Mark 11:22-24

Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another’s ability.

Today, I have faith in my Father God, the one who formed the universe, created an intricate human body and chooses to live inside of me. I have faith in His plan for me. He has made provision for everything I need, want or could hope for; health, peace, joy & prosperity.

Faith in God can move a mighty mountain, calm a troubled sea, make a desert into a fountain and give us the victory.

Sandy G

And we are also happy with the troubles we have. Why are we happy with troubles? Because we know that these troubles make us more patient. And this patience is proof that we are strong. And this proof gives us hope. And this hope will never disappoint us. We know this because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts through the Holy Spirit he gave us. Romans 5:3-5 ERV

What you go through is never meant to harm you, it’s meant to season and cook you to perfection. We were never meant to focus on the process as much as the finished product.

If you’re training for a marathon, what gets you through the training is the goal of crossing the finish line. If you don’t have a goal, you’ll always find it hard to go through the training.

The same is true in the Kingdom of God. Our goal is to tell others the good news of the gospel, but without a test, there is no testimony. What we go through in life gives us the ability to relate to someone God wants us to reach. It’s never about you, it’s about Gods plan to reach a lost and dying world.

Gods intentions are to break you open so that His life giving love can flow through you to others. If we don’t experience brokenness, what is in us would never spill out to others.

Thank You Father for each test and trial, every tear I’ve shed, every horrible thing I had to endure. It’s all about Your plans to show Your love to others. How I love You and thank You for every valley, every mountain, all the grief and pain. Help me to stay broken and humbled. Amen

Sandy G

Listen to me, O royal daughter; take to heart what I say. Forget your people and your family far away. For your royal husband delights in your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord. Psalm 45:10-11

I honor my husband today. Walt has made me the happiest woman in the world because of his great love for me. Regardless of how I feel I look, he thinks I’m a hottie. Trust me, at 67 you take every compliment very seriously. He’s the only one who kisses me when I have morning breath and thinks it’s sweet. The only one who sees the best in me always.

It’s not easy to love me sometimes. I’m not perfect nor do I pretend to be so, but according to Walt, that doesn’t matter. He’s in it for the long haul. When he told me he wouldn’t marry me until he knew it was for keeps, he meant it. Once he made that commitment, I was stuck with him forever! Now that’s a bargain I can live with.

The last two years brought pressures we’ve never encountered before. We’ve stood on the Word and Gods covenant promises to us more than any other season of our life. Remember the scripture, “Life and death are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will it the fruit of it”? Well we learned that having a firm foundation and a hope and trust in that Word paid off. The problems didn’t just disappear, we had to continually stand on what we knew in our hearts, not what we felt in our bodies. To not be tempted to change our words to what we saw, but to continue calling those things that were not as though they were.

But even greater than that I have in Walt as a lover and protector; what a treasure I have in my Lord. I can’t continually wish for something else when the one who values me and lavishes great gifts on us is really all I need. He is enough.

Lord, nothing in the earth can satisfy or bring me joy but You. I hear people say, “Oh, I want that for Christmas!” but I want You. In days or weeks, the newness of those gifts will wear off and people will be left wanting once again. But You are the gift that keeps on giving and giving every time I ask.

You are truly the greatest gift!

Sandy G

Have you ever stood in the water and had the waves hit you relentlessly? I love playing in the waves, but there was one time that the waves were so high and strong, that after a 1/2 hour, I was exhausted. Just trying to walk back to the beach was a struggle. Halfway to shore, I wasn’t so sure I was going to make it. It’s like all the strength was being drawn out of me with every pull of the water.

Sometimes life gets that way. The things we go through take it’s toll on us and try to pull us under. But hey, we’re not quitters! So we continue taking one wave at a time until the mother of all waves hits us and threatens to drag us down to the bottom of the ocean floor. It’s not easy to recover from the ‘mother’ wave! It doesn’t matter if you’re the best swimmer in the world, there are times when you’re pulled under and get disoriented as to what’s up and what’s down.

In Matthew 14:28-31, we read another water story:

Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.”

He said, “Come ahead.”

Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!”

Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, “Faint-heart, what got into you?”

What got into Peter in the first place thinking he could walk on water? Faith. Faith in Jesus’ ability is what got into Peter. So what made him sink? Fear. Because fear causes us to look at the wrong things. To look at the circumstances and let those things become bigger in our eyes than faith in Gods ability to deliver on His promises.

That’s why we’re encouraged to read the Word and meditate on His promises (Joshua 1:8). You see, what we do in the good season, helps us through the tough ones. It’s like putting on a life vest, you never know when the boat you’re in might capsize or a storm may come along to threaten you.

Father, I see now that unless I keep looking to You, I tend to rely on my abilities rather than Yours. I’m sorry! It’s You that the waves obey. It’s You that split the Red Sea. It’s You that created the universe. It’s You that speaks peace and everything quiets down. When I grow up, I want to be just like You. I know that according to Your Word, Your Spirit lives in me and is able to do more than I could ever do on my own. Your Spirit raised Jesus from the dead so You are well able to deliver me from every evil attack of the enemy. I will continue to trust in You. I will NOT be afraid! My faith remains in You. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

Sandy G

Reposted from 2017

“This is God’s Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God: ‘Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.’
Jeremiah 33:2‭-‬3 MSG

If you’re waiting for God to show up, remember you always get what you’re expecting. Oh look, there He is and He has everything you’ll ever need. Just put your trust in Him.

Raise your expectations today. He said to call on Him and He’ll answer and show you wonderful things that you’ve never been able to figure out on your own. That’s a promise! Believe His promises and you will never be disappointed. He loves to be wanted. He loves to be needed! Stop trying to do things on your own and trust in Him. You are always on His mind and in His heart.

Just as Jesus said, it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. He’s a giving God. He said that you have not because you ask not so ask largely that your choice may be full.

You have the ability to turn your mourning into dancing, your hurt into hope and your lack into plenty by changing your expectations from the worst to the best. Expect His best today.

Sandy G